Housing. 3 



others which need plenty of fresh air and exposure to 

 keep their ceres and wattles in good order. 



AN ADDED CONVENIENCE. 



Such lofts may be made of considerably more use 

 if it is possible to erect an outside flight (such as illus- 

 trated) in front of the window. This would allow the 

 birds coming out and securing not only fresh air, but 

 a sun-bath occasionally; and one has only to watch 

 Pigeons for a very little while to become convinced of 

 the fact that they do enjoy basking in the sun. 

 Pigeons, like cats, will lie for hours in the blazing sun 

 of the hottest day in July or Au.gust. This being so, 

 it will readily be seen that any house provided for their 

 accommodation will yield better results if it gives them 

 the opportunity of taking a sun bath whenever they 

 feel inclined. In fitting up such an outside flight the 

 boards formin.g the floor should have a space, say, of 

 half-an-inch left between each board to allow rain and 

 other moisture to drain away quickly. If this is not 

 done the floor will be continualh' damp, and this is not 

 conducive to the health of the birds. 



CLEARING THE GROUND. 



A loft or shed of the character described should be 

 thoroughly gutted of all impedimenta ere it is made into 

 a Pigeon loft. Vou want nothing but bare walls, a 

 floor, roof, door, and windows when you commence the 

 process of conversion. Having cleared out everything, 

 set to and limewash the inside of the roof and walls, 

 having first of all swept and scraped away all dirt and 

 filth should any exist. After clearing and cleansing it, 

 fit up your perches. For the Tumblers and other 

 small breeds the best perches are those in the form 

 of a bracket projecting from the wall. Fantails do 

 better without perches, as they soon ruin their plumage 

 if given them. During the breeding season they may 

 be given a long broad board to fly to, but during the 

 moulting and show seasons they are best kept on the 

 floor, and not given the opportunity of perching. If 

 it is at all iwssible when fitting up a loft, seek the 



